Ristorante Tartufo — Restaurant in Brisbane City

If you’re a lover of authentic Italian cuisine, look no further than Ristorante Tartufo, nestled in the heart of Fortitude Valley at 1000 Ann Street, Brisbane. This culinary haven, helmed by the incredibly talented Tony Percuoco (and our great friend, and head of house, Jeffrey) offers a dining experience that is nothing short of extraordinary.

To borrow from his website, Tony’s food journey began as a young boy growing up in the Italian town of Naples. Both his father Mario Percuoco and his uncle were restaurant owners, and his mother was a remarkable cook with an amazing knack for turning the simplest ingredients into works of art. While other kids dreamt of becoming pilots and police officers, Tony dreamt of becoming a chef—a dream he set into motion as soon as he migrated to Australia with his family in the early 1970s.

At fifteen, Tony landed his first role as an apprentice chef at the iconic Bennelong restaurant in Sydney. With a mix of fear and excitement, he embraced the long hours and hard work, an experience that set him up for life. His family’s restaurant, Pulcinella, in Sydney’s Kings Cross, became known for its fresh Italian food, attentive service, and lively atmosphere—traits that are now hallmarks of Ristorante Tartufo.

The real star of the show at Tartufo is the food. Tony’s menu is a masterpiece, crafted with the finest ingredients and an unwavering passion for Italian cuisine. From the bold flavours of a classic Margherita pizza to the rich and creamy risottos, and especially the signature truffle dishes, every bite is a testament to Tony’s culinary expertise and respect for ingredients. Tony’s commitment to sourcing the freshest quality produce is evident, often partnering with local farms like Jumping Red Ant in northern NSW to ensure that only the best ingredients make it to your plate.

For those fortunate enough to meet Tony, they’ll find a man with unwavering loyalty and respect for those around him—be it his team, customers, suppliers, or ingredients. His philosophy is simple:

“Respect everything, starting with your ingredient. If you keep it simple and not camouflage it or unnecessarily tamper it, that ingredient will give you back a beautiful dish.”

The warm and inviting ambiance of Ristorante Tartufo perfectly complements the outstanding service. The staff are genuinely amazing, making you feel like part of the family with their attentive and friendly approach. Don’t miss the opportunity to pair your meal with a selection from their impressive wine list, featuring some of the best Italian and international wines.

For those seeking an unforgettable dining experience, Ristorante Tartufo is a must-visit. Tony Percuoco’s menu is a testament to the rich culinary traditions of Italy, guaranteed to leave you craving more. So gather your friends, book a table, and prepare to be enchanted by the magic of Ristorante Tartufo....

What was supposed to be a nice get together for my fiancee's birthday turned into a disaster show. Where do I start?!?!?! We started off nicely placed in the car park, although from their point of view, this formed part of the restaurant. Please note, pedestrians had to navigate their way around us as well as avoid the bushes and cars. Brilliant start!! After giving the waitress our order, we waited patiently. And we waited. And continued to wait. Fast forward 1 hour and 30 mins later and we were told that there was a delay because it was a busy night. Mind you, other patrons who arrived after us, had started receiving their meals before us. All we ordered was 3 pizzas and 2 mains...shouldn't take that long should it? The waitress then comes back to us to let us know that our meals had in fact, been dropped and it was only after asking for the 3rd time that we were told. They effectively had to make the meals from the beginning but couldn't give us a time frame. But to their credit, we were given 5 free drinks. Happy days!!!! Made up for the disappointment! :)

Eventually, our meals did indeed arrive at our tables, but it gets better!!! They brought out 5 meals, but 3 of them were incorrect. By this time, it had become a complete joke.

We had the joyous encounter with the night manager who did not want to take any ownership of the 'mishap'. Instead, blamed everyone else for the issues that had taken place. Instead of being understanding, she was completely abrupt, rude and did not care for the experience we had so far.

By 915 pm, our meals did arrive, albeit very rushed. I'm not angry, just disappointed. For a place I once was an advocate for to get all my friends and family to attend, I highly recommend you don't go here and experience what we had...

Service was great from the lady that served our table, unfortunately the pasta was undercooked and had to be sent back and I decided to skip my meal given the wait time. Very overpriced for meals provided and sane with the wine list. I just been living I Sydney for the past 3years so I do appreciate great food. Also the seating because we were new to the place or perhaps the guy who greeted us didn't like the look of us we were place in dining out the front from other guests and the comfort of lounge areas. We didn't get a choice. We were made to wait while other guests walked past. I could understand if they were fully booked but after walking through the venue there was plenty of dining available. I didn't feel welcomed by the guy and perhaps he looked down his nose at me while my guests were with me we did have a giggle thinking surely we are not on stage tonight while we do enjoy fine dining this was not on offer for us. I would had preferred plastic forks and knives from the local Thai restaurant that provides quality food plus services above and beyond. Sad days for Australia 🇦🇺 and perhaps the silver spoon wanna be society we live in. I can say I would not recommend the place or will our business partner ever be going to this venue. Kind regards, this is just my experience and no hard felt feelings. No one parked my car or had any idea, so on that note. This is exactly why I try...